DSA Co-Chair: 'I Think Events of October 7 Were, In Many Ways, Inevitable'

In a wide-ranging interview published Saturday, Megan Romer, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, outlined the organization's positions on Israel, the U.S. Economy, policing, and foreign policy.

Speaking on The New Yorker's podcast with editor David Remnick, Romer described support for Israel as a "red line" Within the DSA. She said the organization considers any support for Israel unacceptable, citing the DSA's recent decision to withdraw its endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after the congresswoman voted in favor of a House resolution stating that denying Israel's right to exist constitutes antisemitism.

"Our convention debated it and decided that this is a firm red line," Romer said. "There will be no military or economic support of any kind for Israel."

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Romer said the DSA supports "a free Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital," Adding that the position "can safely be read as a one-state solution."

When asked about Hamas' October 7 attack, Romer was questioned regarding her support for a DSA-backed candidate who attended a pro-Hamas demonstration on October 8. She acknowledged that had she been in New York at the time, she likely would have attended the demonstration herself.

"I think the events of October 7 were, in many ways, inevitable," Romer said. "If you put people into an open-air concentration camp and deny them basic rights, dignity, food, and the ability to live with minimal security for so long, you have to expect that eventually they will rebel."

When challenged over Hamas' record on LGBTQ rights, Romer said she would not describe Hamas as LGBTQ-friendly but believed that "most LGBTQ people killed in Palestine were killed by Israeli bombs."

Romer outlined the DSA's broader agenda as giving citizens democratic control over workplaces, housing, and essential industries such as energy, water, and internet infrastructure. She said the goal is establishing a democracy governed by the working class, defined as people who earn wages rather than income from investments.

On policing, Romer advocated eliminating police funding altogether. "That means zero funding," She said. "It means taking money away from police departments and investing it elsewhere - fully funding social services, schools, and after-school programs."

Economically, Romer said the DSA supports significantly higher taxes on the wealthy. "We definitely believe in taxing the rich heavily," She said. "Most billionaires accumulated their wealth by exploiting the working class in a very significant way."

When asked to identify an existing socialist country worthy of emulation, Romer pointed to Cuba, praising its Family Code and describing it as "the most LGBTQ-friendly constitution in the world."

On the war in Ukraine, Romer opposed continued U.S. Military assistance to Kyiv. "We don't believe in pouring American money and weapons anywhere in the world," She said. "It doesn't make anything better." She called instead for large-scale diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the war.

Romer also explained the DSA's decision not to endorse Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, saying the organization must remain politically independent. "Our credibility depends on being socialists first and offering a genuine alternative to the system, not serving as a rubber stamp," She said.

Looking ahead to 2028, Romer said the DSA hopes to field its own presidential candidate, mentioning United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and Rep. Ro Khanna as possible contenders.